Harry Lorayne

Chat about specific magicians and their shows, their careers and their place in the history of magic.

Moderators: nickj, Lady of Mystery, Mandrake, bananafish, support

Manufacturer of modern & unique magic apparatus! MagicWorld Magic Shop for Magic Tricks Visit Magicbox for all the latest and best effects! Dude That's Cool Magic Aeternum Servare Secreta World-Of-Magic, Suppliers of quality Magic Worldwide

Re: Harry Lorayne

Postby Happy Madison » Sep 29th, '14, 16:44



I'm a big fan of Harry Lorayne. As with everyone on the planet, we are all entitled to our opinions, but i've learn't a huge amount from his work. His 'Best Of' range of Video's were one of the first purchases I made nearly 15 years ago.

The series is packed full of amazing effects and sleights. His 'no-get ready double from 4 cards' is something I still use today and I don't think i've ever seen another card worker use it. I don't know why as it's a fantastic sleight. His ultra-move is another valuable sleight (but I now prefer to use Lennart Green's Windmill move) which can be used to perform miracles.

His thinking and his take on the Out of This World plot - Out of this Universe, is an amazing effect. I've mentioned this in a few posts but it really is a great effect that totally blows people away. The Great Divide, Gambler vs. Magician.....the list goes on....The Family Unit, which is my Wife's favorite card effect, Halo Aces, using Harry's Halo cut.

I do think he's an amazing thinker and inventor in magic and of magic and should be placed up there with likes of Ed Marlo and Dai Vernon.

User avatar
Happy Madison
Full Member
 
Posts: 50
Joined: Sep 10th, '14, 16:04

Re: Harry Lorayne

Postby mark lewis » Sep 30th, '14, 05:58

I like him too. I have admired him for decades.

mark lewis
Elite Member
 
Posts: 3875
Joined: Feb 26th, '05, 02:41

Re: Harry Lorayne

Postby Barefoot Boy » Oct 1st, '14, 03:17

I really wish Harry would come and lecture here in Toronto, Canada! Are you listening, Mr. Lorayne? :)

Blessings on thee, little man
Barefoot Boy with cheeks of tan...
Outward sunshine; Inward joy,
Blessings on thee, Barefoot Boy!
User avatar
Barefoot Boy
Senior Member
 
Posts: 629
Joined: Oct 25th, '09, 23:11
Location: Toronto, Canada (51:CP Mentalist)

Re: Harry Lorayne

Postby Happy Madison » Oct 1st, '14, 11:05

Born in 1926, so that makes him around the 88 mark. I'd also love to see him lecture, even if he never picked up a deck of cards, just to hear his stories, experiences and to take on board his advice. Has he ever appeared in the UK at all at conventions?

User avatar
Happy Madison
Full Member
 
Posts: 50
Joined: Sep 10th, '14, 16:04

Re: Harry Lorayne

Postby mark lewis » Oct 2nd, '14, 01:31

Paul. He ain't coming to Toronto. Our illustrious presence alone will not entice him. Besides I remember he wanted a fantastic sum of money, first class air fare and being put up in the best hotel to lecture in Ireland. Alas it didn't happen. Mind you, Toronto is a bit nearer, times have changed and he may be more flexible now and of course the local magic club is a fairly wealthy one. Or he could lecture at the Browser's Den where he would probably sell more products to all the young whippersnappers there who do card tricks morning, noon and night.

I HATE watching magic lectures but in Harry's case I would make a rare exception.

mark lewis
Elite Member
 
Posts: 3875
Joined: Feb 26th, '05, 02:41

Re: Harry Lorayne

Postby Doctor Klahn » Mar 26th, '15, 09:44

mark lewis wrote:Well, I had no trouble with him. I patiently pointed out that he could not possibly have devised the presentation of the Lazy Man's Card Trick but he took no offence whatsoever. That is because I merely said that I was "puzzled" and that "there must be an explanation for it". I let him save face. And in with it I mixed a lot of praise and glory for him. In point of fact there is a lot of crediting given to others in his various books. Sure, he misses out on occasion but no worse than anyone else who writes about magic.


I've been a lurker on the Cafe for a few months short of ten years without ever posting. In fact, this is my first post on a magic board, ever. The reason why I'm even bothering to post is this: "Well, I had no trouble with him. I patiently pointed out that he could not possibly have devised the presentation of the Lazy Man's Card Trick but he took no offence whatsoever. "

With all due respect, Mister Lewis, like Lorayne you're a Cafe V.I.P. You have the credibility to slug it out with anyone, he knows that, so he's not going to get in YOUR face. However, and I think you know this, anyone else who disagrees with him in any way receives the full force if his disturbingly paranoid rants. I've seen many posts from both of you and we also both know you could out-debate him without breaking a sweat.

I ask you this: if you weren't Mark Lewis, Cafe V.I.P, would he have been so reserved with you? I think we both know the answer is no. I remember once when I was in the military and missed saluting a colonel because I wasn't wearing glasses (I'm horrbly nearsighted). The colonel, after chewing me out, told me to go to the clinic and get some glasses (very remote location, clinic being the sole option without renting a car and spending two days on it). I replied that appointments were virtually impossible to get. He said "Well, I've never had any problem." I said "That's because you're a colonel, a senior officer. If you were a sergeant or lower, you would have tremendous problems getting anything but your annual exam. The optometrist's office here is an officer's club, sir."

The colonel tested my theory and found out I was right. To his immense credit, he leaned on those necessary and then told me to pick any time I wanted for an appointment. I did so and he made it happen. He even apologized to me. Colonels don't do that with corporals very often.

In the Cafe version of this story, you're a colonel and almost all of the other members are the enlisted personnel. If you had been Corporal Lewis, Colonel Lorayne would have reamed you a new one for daring to suggest that he wasn't completely correct in every aspect of everything he's ever said, and he'd have been a complete tool about it.

If you're wondering why I'm resurrecting this thread, especially in my first post, it's because this morning I finally lost my patience with the Cafe (more accurately, I lost my patience with the Cafe's insistence on tolerating Lorayne's posts). I used to poke around there a few times a month, and as someone interested only in card magic I couldn't avoid running into Lorayne's posts. I ignored them to the extent of my ability, but yesterday he dug up this ten year old thread and just started blasting away with posts, quoting those who supported him (even if the posts he was quoting were as old as the thread) and blasting those who didn't.

In short, I just can't take Lorayne anymore. I cringe every time I see his avatar and I won't go back to that site until he manages to get himself banned again. I have IMMENSE respect for his contributions to magic, I have eight of his books, but I have no respect for him as a person at all. Being a giant in a particular field doesn't automatically warrant respect as a person, as any chess enthusiast could tell you when the subject of Bobby Fischer (who contributed more to chess than anyone but died a vicious, loathsome bigot) is brought up.

I apologize for bringing this up, but I feel it had to be said. I'm familiar with your posts and you have my immense respect too, but your "Well, I had no trouble with him" bespoke such a degree of naivete that I almost choked when I read it. I saw the exchange you refer to. You didn't get off light because you gave him a heaping helping of praise and glory, and you didn't get off light because you "let him save face." You got off light because reputation-wise, you're more than big enough to give the playground bully a good fight. If you were to post under a different name with no apparent credentials and try your kid gloves approach with him, you'd get the same treatment that any other Lorayne dissenter would. It's true that some people have badgered Lorayne and were jerks about it, but Lorayne treats even the polite dissenters like garbage. He contributes nothing to that site but sales pitches, insults, unstable rants, repetitive babble and bad punctuation. He is, to put it as politely as I can, the north side of a southbound horse.

End of rant with my apologies repeated.

With sincerest respect and best regards,

Doctor Klahn

Washington, DC

Doctor Klahn
New User
 
Posts: 1
Joined: Mar 26th, '15, 08:50

Re: Harry Lorayne

Postby Lady of Mystery » Mar 26th, '15, 13:14

Can I just ask that we don't let this thread get silly?

Foodie chat and recipes at https://therosekitchen.wordpress.com/
User avatar
Lady of Mystery
Senior Moderator
 
Posts: 8870
Joined: Nov 30th, '06, 17:30
Location: On a pink and fluffy cloud (31:AH)

Re: Harry Lorayne

Postby mr invisible » Mar 27th, '15, 08:57

Craig Browning wrote:Harry's listed in several Who's Who lists and books. I can't believe anyone serious in magic would have left him out but then again, we live in a time when people believe David Copperfield is a great Mentalist. . . :roll:
Very good point Craig. 8)

MEMBER OF THE SHEFFIELD CIRCLE OF MAGICIANS.
Is magic really real ??
User avatar
mr invisible
Advanced Member
 
Posts: 1118
Joined: Feb 21st, '12, 17:05
Location: Belper, Derbyshire. [ 47-SH]

Re: Harry Lorayne

Postby mark lewis » Mar 27th, '15, 13:09

You are not the Dr Khan (different spelling) on the magic cafe that wanted to know how to do the overhand svengali shuffle are you? The terribly rich Dr Khan? Just curious.

I can assure you that Harry would not be in the slightest bit intimidated by me whether I was a VIP on the magic cafe or the King of 5 countries. He isn't that kind of guy. And you seem to forget that I am the most banned member of the magic cafe in history and in fact am banned over there now.

In fact I have seen Harry indeed get slightly irritated with me. After all, I am very good at irritating people. But I always backed off as soon as I sensed it because of respect for an old master. And when I backed off he did too. The truth of the matter is that I have always treated Harry with great respect and I think he senses that I admire him tremendously and that is why he doesn't lose his temper with me even though I don't always agree with him.

I haven't seen the latest kerfuffle on the magic cafe. Perhaps you can provide a link? Great fusses always amuse me.

mark lewis
Elite Member
 
Posts: 3875
Joined: Feb 26th, '05, 02:41

Re: Harry Lorayne

Postby EndersGame » Mar 22nd, '18, 02:29

Apologies in advance for necroing an old thread.

But I've been doing some reading about Harry Lorayne recently, and appreciated the material in this thread. I just came across a wonderful clip from an interview that Rudy Tinoco had with him last year, that is well worth sharing here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZcWDRAqqjI

I think that what you see in this clip goes a long way to understanding the man. By his own admission, his very difficult childhood played a big role in developing the larger-than-life personality we've seen on screen and on internet forums.

It's only four minutes long, but may help explain much about why Harry is the way that he is; it certainly made me a bit more compassionate and gracious in my sentiments.

Last edited by EndersGame on Mar 22nd, '18, 13:27, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
EndersGame
Preferred Member
 
Posts: 222
Joined: Mar 21st, '18, 02:07

Re: Harry Lorayne

Postby Mandrake » Mar 22nd, '18, 10:44

No need to apologise, we much prefer old threads to be revitalised instead of lots of separate new ones!

User avatar
Mandrake
'
 
Posts: 27494
Joined: Apr 20th, '03, 21:00
Location: UK (74:AH)

Re: Harry Lorayne

Postby EndersGame » Mar 25th, '18, 13:12

Thanks Mandrake. I ended up dishing out the money to watch the whole interview with Harry and his lecture.

For a 90+ year old man, his card skills are still remarkable!

I haven't watched the whole thing yet, but if it is really good, I'll do a write-up about it to post somewhere on here.

Anyone else watched the lecture and interview? I believe it was recorded in 2016 on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

User avatar
EndersGame
Preferred Member
 
Posts: 222
Joined: Mar 21st, '18, 02:07

Re: Harry Lorayne

Postby Mandrake » Mar 25th, '18, 21:33

EndersGame wrote: I ended up dishing out the money to watch the whole interview


Hmm, I'm sure you've got a bargain there but, if you need to justify such a purchase, you might want to take a look at ftopic2676.php

User avatar
Mandrake
'
 
Posts: 27494
Joined: Apr 20th, '03, 21:00
Location: UK (74:AH)

Re: Harry Lorayne

Postby EndersGame » Mar 25th, '18, 22:18

Fortunately we are just talking about $5 here.

But that thread is a real treasure Mandrake! Thanks for the link! :)

User avatar
EndersGame
Preferred Member
 
Posts: 222
Joined: Mar 21st, '18, 02:07

Re: Harry Lorayne

Postby EndersGame » Apr 7th, '18, 11:01

EndersGame wrote:I haven't watched the whole thing yet, but if it is really good, I'll do a write-up about it to post somewhere on here.

Yep. It's good. Fantastic actually. And for just $5, it's also an amazing bargain!

Harry Lorayne's Jaw Droppers lecture inspired me to do a detailed write-up about it, in the hope that it will help make more people aware of it and check it out. I've posted my review of his lecture elsewhere on the site here:

REVIEW: Harry Lorayne's 2016 Jaw Droppers Lecture
A rare opportunity to see a 90 year old living legend perform and teach card magic!

Image

User avatar
EndersGame
Preferred Member
 
Posts: 222
Joined: Mar 21st, '18, 02:07

Previous

Return to Magicians' Hall of Fame

Playing Cards for Magicians Best prices around! UK's Online Magic Tricks and Jokes Shop offers kids and beginner magic tricks and jokes. A web site set up to sell my book, THE STRIPPER DECK, and future magical/mentalism titles. Web Design for Magicians Sorcery Shop - Home of the ITR Best prices around!

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest

cron